12 March 1940, ended the Soviet-Finnish war. One of the most controversial and violent confrontations, the Finnish war still broken spears and feathers of historians.

"Cuckoo"

Fighting in the winter of 1939-1940 was held in a very harsh winter, when the temperature dropped to -30 and sometimes -40 degrees, high snow cover is 110-125 cm, and sometimes more, thick forests were forced to fight mostly along roads where the Finns actively used actions from ambush. Often acted "cuckoos" - Finnish soldiers, armed with sub-machine guns "Suomi". Taking a good and well camouflaged position, the Finnish did the shooter at close range to inflict very serious damage to Soviet infantry unit. The reaction of the Soviet leadership for successful use of enemy automatic weapons in the melee was instant. In the course of hostilities with Finland, the red Army appeared PPD-34/38 and at the final stage and PPD-40. From the prototype PPD-34 they differed by the presence of disc store, copied from Finnish "Suomi". Subsequently, the idea of "the cuckoo", as a Finnish soldier armed with a submachine gun in our country is very much transformed in the image of the legendary Finnish sniper, often acting with trees.

2 Snipers

The winter war If we talk about snipers, that is specially prepared arrows, armed with a rifle with a telescopic sight, the Finns they were few and many to be, in principle, could not, because of the lack of proper weapons. On the few Finnish snipers are already the subject of many legends, rather confirming their exclusivity. In the Soviet Union since 1928 paid much attention to the sniper case and the structure of companies was from 3 to 5 snipers. If in the beginning of the war actions of the Soviet snipers did not differ significant impact, it is at the final stage of the war, especially at the storming of Vyborg, snipers have played a significant role in the fight against gun emplacements and enemy infantry. The task of the sniper had her sniper in attack and defense to support the actions of his unit. This tactic will stay until mid-1942, when during the great Patriotic war, the actions of both Soviet and German snipers will get a few different character.

3 the Machine Fedorov and SVT

The Finnish war was marked by the last application famous machine Fedorov. Military trials machine was still on the Romanian front in 1916., it is relatively massive (produced about 3.5 thousand units) production has been deployed in the first half of the 20-ies. During the Finnish war machine gun Fedorov were armed with Soviet skiers and assault groups — those who are on a short distance required a high density of fire. The Finnish war was also marked by the first use of the SVT-38 (self-loading rifle system. Tokarev OBR 1938). Arms well proved itself in the harsh conditions of war and after revision it was accepted into service already as SVT-40 (differed in total length and location of the cleaning rod. Later, during the great Patriotic war, the rifle repeatedly criticized for the complexity of production and service, but in the hands of experienced and trained fighters were extremely formidable weapon. Yes, and Finns who have experienced the action of the weapon, commented on the high quality of this rifle.

4 "Nancenoy"

In the harsh winters of the standard uniform of the red army (boots, coat, budenovka) was clearly insufficient, and in the army, a large number of coats and caps with ear-flaps. According to legend, when there was a question about the shortcomings of the budenovka in 40-degree cold, Stalin proposed to replace the budenovka hat with ear flaps, which he liked to wear in the winter. Then she called "nonsence" or "hansenova" by the name of the famous Norwegian polar Explorer Fridtjof Nansen, and since the Finnish war became part of the uniform of Soviet soldiers.

5 Tanks, amphibious

The Soviet-Finnish war marked the first combat use of Soviet amphibious tanks for their intended purpose. Tanks T-37 and T-38 armed with one 7.62 mm machine gun and a crew of 2 people crossed water barriers depending on the conditions on the ice, and sometimes by swimming. So, for example in the battle of the river Pensin-Jocke Roth T-38 lost two tanks, by swimming crossed the river and their fire had made a successful crossing of the infantry. Later during the great Patriotic war, these combat vehicles were more often used as conventional tanks and rarely in its special purpose (for example in the battle at the Neva Dubrovka).

6 In the skies of Finland

A few months before the events in Finland in the battles on the Khalkhin-major S. I. Gritsevets, put your fighter in enemy territory, took the shot down in combat the commander of the regiment In P. Zabalueva. It is noteworthy that such a feat during the winter war Soviet pilots repeated 11 times, saving the crews shot down or made an emergency landing aircraft. So, in the last day of the war, captain I. N. Balls saved Lieutenant Dobrov, whose plane was shot down. Newspaper "Krasnaya Zvezda reported on this feat: "Only at the end of the second day Balloons found Lieutenant 30 kilometers from the place where lay the remains of his plane - Dobrov went to the side of the Soviet Union. Dropping Balls picked up the Lieutenant, took him on his shoulders and made a successful takeoff. In the path of a strong wind put the Lieutenant on the fuselage. To Dobrov did not fall, the Major pressed his elbows, his feet to the back of the seat. This situation did not allow the pilot to lower the landing gear. But he still managed to safely land the plane...".

7 the Last storm

After the breakthrough of the Finnish "Mannerheim Line" a serious obstacle to the red Army became Vyborg. This major industrial and transport centre was converted by the Finns to the fortress. Separate areas near Vyborg Finns were flooded and in some cases the soldiers were going to storm knee-deep and sometimes waist-deep in icy water. 70 infantry division M. P. Kirponos bypassed the fortifications of Vyborg on the ice of the Finnish Gulf and struck at the flank and rear of the enemy fortifications. While near Vyborg fierce fighting in Moscow was already in peace talks, however, the Finnish delegation considered the fall of Vyborg unlikely not made concessions. Only when it became known that the battle has already unfolded on the streets of the city, the Finns signed the Treaty late in the evening of March 12. And a few hours later, the Red Army gained control of the Vyborg — side didn't know about already taken place the signing of the peace. The last shot on the Soviet side were taken about 12 h 13 Mar 1940